The U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea’s civil-military partners have launched a major four-day disaster management and humanitarian assistance field training exercise in Morobe Province.

The exercise, which officially began yesterday, Tuesday, August 11th, will run across multiple locations in Lae city, all the way to Friday, August 14th. It is designed to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s provincial capacity to respond quickly and effectively to natural and maritime emergencies.

The training is being led by the U.S. Pacific Command’s Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM), in coordination with the Wisconsin National Guard, Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), National Disaster Centre (NDC), and National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA).

The exercise aims to establish stronger province-level disaster response coordination systems that can be rapidly activated during emergencies.

“Disaster preparedness is the ultimate expression of our shared commitment to regional security, and this field training ensures that our forces work as a unified team to save lives and protect vulnerable communities,” said James Kenwolf, CFE-DM Training and Engagements Branch Chief.

Morobe Province was selected as a key training location because of its exposure to a range of natural hazards, including riverine flooding, landslides and drought.

Participants will take part in practical drills designed to test coordination between government agencies, security forces, humanitarian organizations and other emergency responders.

Among the activities will be oil spill response operations at the Port of Lae, as well as search-and-rescue exercises, displaced population management and medical emergency response at the PNGDF Engineering Battalion’s Igam Barracks.

The exercise brings together a broad network of local, national and international organizations.

Participating organizations include the Morobe Provincial Government, Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Spirit of America and World Vision.

International participants include personnel and experts from the Wisconsin National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Pacific’s Oceania Engagement Team.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Andy Covington said conducting the training at the provincial level would help strengthen PNG’s ability to lead its own disaster response operations.

“By bringing practical training directly to the provincial level, we are reinforcing the sovereign capacity of Papua New Guinea’s first responders to lead disaster response efforts independently and efficiently,” Covington said.

Beyond saving lives, organizers say stronger disaster preparedness can also protect economic development and reduce the long-term financial impact of natural disasters.

Research cited by the organizers indicates that every dollar invested in disaster preparedness can prevent up to seven dollars in future losses.

For communities vulnerable to disasters, effective preparation can help ensure that limited development resources remain available for essential services such as schools, healthcare and infrastructure rather than being redirected toward disaster recovery.

The Lae exercise is intended to strengthen coordination and practical response capabilities while providing participants with experience working together during complex emergencies.

The training also highlights the growing importance of cooperation between Papua New Guinea and the United States in strengthening disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance and regional resilience.